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By Newzyy Staff — 2d ago
President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to redesign a forthcoming aircraft carrier, the USS Doris Miller, to incorporate steam-powered catapults for launching jets instead of the modern electromagnetic system. The presidential order calls for replacing both the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators with steam and hydraulic technology.
A national security memorandum, signed on Thursday, instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to devise a plan for this change within 60 days. The USS Doris Miller, a Ford-class vessel, is already two years behind its original construction schedule.
This directive follows nearly a decade of public remarks from President Trump concerning the use of electromagnetic launch systems on contemporary U.S. aircraft carriers. His preference for traditional steam catapults dates back to at least 2017, when he first publicly discussed the idea with Time magazine. He has since reiterated his perspective in numerous settings, including campaign events and discussions with military personnel, even after returning to office in 2025.
President Trump has consistently voiced skepticism about the digital nature and complexity of the electromagnetic system, stating it appears difficult to operate and incurs higher costs. He has previously recounted conversations where he expressed concerns that the modern alternative was more expensive and less effective than steam-based mechanisms.